2013 Buick Regal GS with 45k miles and what really needs to be done vs what dealer says

[Claire]

My car is well taken care of but I feel the dealer always wants to do things ahead of the maintenance schedule and blames age. It is garaged and serviced yearly with oil change, tire rotation,etc. I’m thinking maybe transmission fluid, spark plugs,coolant flush?

 

[luke_dubs]

Transmission fluid change at 50k is what I would do (and what I have done during my ownership), and a coolant flush is probably a good idea as well, especially if it has never been done before. Spark plugs can wait until 100k unless something goes wrong with them.

It isn't a bad idea to get recommended maintenance done when the manufacturer calls for it, but since they recommend a 7500 mile oil change, I wouldn't bother following it (unless it's important). I have never taken my car in for the manufacturer's recommended services, and I've been just fine. Just replacing things that break/fail, as well as oil changes and tire rotations.

 

[bugspop1]

My oldest son used to work as a Service Advisor at our Local Buick Dealership. It's a pretty big outfit, they own Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, Ford, Jeep, BMW, Volvo, Dodge, Chrysler, and many others (each their own dealership). Anyway, they tell their Service Advisors to Upsell.
When customers were getting close to needing a service done (maybe within 10,000 miles) that they should convince the customer to get the service done then and there! Our son never followed those guidelines and had many return customers because of this (they'd ask for him by name). Dan would only have the work done that really needed done during their appointment. Of course he occasionally had to call customers with bad news (something unexpected), but he wouldn't Upsell you at the door when you drove in!

Our son no longer works as a Service Advisor. He now owns his own business (not automotive related). I know he's much happier now then he ever was at the Dealership. He did make really decent money as a Service Advisor and could have made much more following their guidelines, but he stuck to his guns and wouldn't Upsell! Our Oldest Daughter is also a Service Advisor, but not with the same outfit. I've never heard her say anything about Upselling, it's a Mercedes Dealership.

 

[Claire]

Thankyou!